Rear view mirror assembly

ABSTRACT

A breakaway rear view mirror assembly wherein a support arm having a mirror adjustably mounted at a lower end has a spherical ball formed at the other end which includes a transverse V-shaped notch. The ball is normally frictionally held between a clamping plate and a mounting bracket attached interior the vehicle adjacent the windshield. After a predetermined rotation of the support arm, the clamping plate loses contact with the ball in the vicinity of the notch whereby the mirror separates from the mounting bracket.

United- States Patent 1,775,712 9/1930 Alvord Inventor Ervin l-l. Strem,Jr.

Mount Clemens, Mich. Appl. No. 855,929 Filed Sept. 8, 1969 Patented Apr.20, 1971 Assignee General Motors Corporation Detroit, Mich.

REAR VIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 248/481, 248/288, 287/21 Int. Cl B60r [/04 Field of Search248/475A, 475, 288, 481, 484; 350/288; 287/12, 21, 87, 90A

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,003,399 10/ l 961 Donner 287/87X 3,425,657 2/1969 Doyle 248/481 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,096,178 12/1967Great Britain 248/475 Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier AssistantExaminer-Frank Domotor Attorneys-J L. Carpenter and E. .l. BiskupABSTRACT: A breakaway rear view mirror assembly wherein a support armhaving a mirror adjustably mounted at a lower end has a spherical ballformed at the other end which includes a transverse V-shaped notch. Theball is normally frictionally held between a clamping plate and amounting bracket attached interior the vehicle adjacent the windshield.After a predetermined rotation of the support arm, the

clamping plate loses contact with the ball in the vicinity of the notchwhereby the mirror separates from the mounting bracket.

llRlEAllR VIIEW lillllllkMUllt ASSEMIBILY Recently, legislation has beenenacted requiring interior rearview mirror assemblies to conform tocertain standards insofar as mounting is concerned. Briefly, the mirroris required to break away, deflect, or collapse when subjected to animpact within a predetermined zone. In accomplishing a mounting of thistype many arrangements have been utilized. the primary arrangement beinga construction wherein the mirror is universally connected to thevehicle at a pair of collapsible ball and socket joints. Otherconstructions have incorporated frangible support sections such as shownand disclosed in De Claire et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,436,049, assigned tothe assignee of the present invention, wherein the mirror support armbreaks away from the mounting portion of the assembly underpredetermined loading conditions. An example of a deflectable orcollapsible mirror assembly is shown in Doyle, U.S. Pat. No. 3,425,657,assigned to the assignee of the present invention, wherein an upperspherical end of the mirror support arm is received within a socketportion of the mounting bracket and includes frangible interlock meanswhich normally prevent movement of the mirror and support arm. Theinterlock means are frangible upon application of a predetermined forceto the mirror, thereby permitting universal movement of the latterrelative to the mounting bracket.

The present invention contemplates a unique mirror construction whichincorporates the features of both the breakaway and the deflectingmounting arrangements by providing a mirror which physically separatesfrom the mounting structure after predetermined rotation or deflection.More specifically, a support arm has a mirror connected at the lower endand a spherical ball formed at the upper end which is normallyfrictionally held by a clamping plate against a socket formed in amounting bracket. A transverse V-shaped notch is formed in the ballintermediate the mounting bracket and the clamp plate. Afterpredetermined rotation or universal movement of the ball relative to thesocket, the clamping plate loses contact with the ball in the vicinityof the notch and permits the mirror to physically separate from themounting structure. With this arrangement, two distinct movements aresequentially effected upon impact of the mirror. First, the mirror andthe support arm rotate about the aforementioned universal connection.Second, the mirror and the support arm separate from the mountingstructure.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a motorvehicle rearview mirror assembly wherein a mirror is releasablyconnected to the vehicle and separable therefrom after predeterminedmovement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an interiorrearview mirror assembly for a motor vehicle wherein a support armincluding a mirror is supported on a mounting member at a releasableuniversal connection such that the mirror and support arm are separablefrom the universal connection after predetermined movement of themirror.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an interiorrearview mirror assembly wherein a mirror support arm having a mirroradjustably connected to a lower end includes a spherical upper end thatis normally fixedly held against a mounting socket by a clamping member,the spherical end having a notch formed therein which causes the formerto lose contact with the clamping member after predetermined rotation ofthe support arm, thereby permitting the mirror to physically separatefrom the mounting socket.

Still another feature of the present invention is to provide an interiorrearview mirror assembly wherein a support arm has a mirror connected atone end and a spherical ball at the other end which includes atransverse V-shaped notch, the ball being normally fixedly held againsta mounting bracket by a clamping plate which is hingedly connectedthereto such that upon movement of the support arm, the ball universallyrotates with respect to the mounting bracket and, after the clampingplate loses contact with the ball at the notch, the mirror physicallyseparates from the mounting bracket.

These and other objectives of the present invention will become readilyapparent to one skilled in the art upon reading the following detaileddescription reference being made to the accompanying drawingillustrating a preferred embodiment in which:

FlG. 1 is a fragmentary-sectional view of a motor vehicle incorporatinga rearview mirror assembly made in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 2-2 of H6. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the rearview mirror assemblyafter predetermined rotation of the support arm.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the rearview mirror assemblyafter separation of the support arm from the mounting bracket.

Referring to the drawing, a rearview mirror assembly 10 made inaccordance with the present invention is mounted interior of a motorvehicle l2 adjacent the upper portion of a windshield H4. The windshield14 is cemented at 16 to a pinchweld 13 which interconnects a roof panel20 and a windshield header 22. A decorative molding 24 extendstransversely between the windshield l4 and the roof panel 20 externallyof the vehicle passenger compartment. A headlining 26 covers theinterior surface of the header 22.

The rearview mirror assembly 10 generally comprises a mirror 30, asupport arm 32, and a mounting structure including a mounting bracket 34and a clamping bracket 36. The upper end of the support arm 32 and themounting structure are covered by a resilient elastomeric cover member36.

The mirror 30 includes prismoidal mirror element 40 which is shiftedbetween a day" and a night" viewing position by night"suitable interiormechanism actuated by a knob 42. The details of construction andoperation of the mirror form no part of the present invention andreference may be made to Clayton, U.S. Pat. No. 3,253,510, assigned tothe assignee of the present invention, for details thereof. The mirror30 includes a rearwardly extending stud 44 which is connected by a screw46 to a lower bifurcated portion 48 of the support arm 32. The upper endof the support arm 32 includes a neck 50 of reduced diameter whichterminates in a spherical ball 52. Referring to H6. 4, a transverseV-shaped notch 54 defined by radial surfaces 56 and 58 is formed in theball 52 The radial surfaces 56 and 58 define on opposite sides of thenotch 54 a seating surface 60 and a clamping surface 62. in thepreferred embodiment, the notch 54 has an included angle ofsubstantially 100, and the periphery thereof has a pronounced curvaturefor facilitating separation of the support arm 32 from the mountingbracket 34 within a predetermined angle of frontal impact, preferably 30left and right of center.

The mounting bracket 34 includes an upper end 64, an upwardly bentintermediate section 66, and a downwardly extending base 68. The upperend of the cover member 38 includes a curved lip 70 defining a slot forreceiving and retaining the inward ends of the vehicle sunshades (notshown). An embedded spring clip 74 serves to resiliently bias the lip70. The upper end 64 of the mounting bracket 34, the cover member 33,and the spring clip 74 are fixedly secured to the header 22 by a screw76. As shown in FIG. 2, the extremities of the intermediate section 66of the mounting bracket 34 are fixedly connected to the header 22 byfasteners 78. A spherical socket 60 is centrally formed in theintermediate section 66 and the adjacent portion of the base 68. Inassembly, the upper end of the support arm 32 projects through agenerally rectangular opening 86 formed in a lower section 86 of thecover member 38 with the seating surface 60 of the ball 52 engaging thesocket 80.

The clamping plate 36 includes a pair of spaced legs 90 which define thegenerally U-shaped opening 92 having a width slightly greater than thediameter of the ball 52. The legs 90 include inversely bent arms 94which project through slots 96 formed in the base 68 therebyestablishing a hinge connection between the clamping plate 36 and themounting bracket 34.

A spherical seat 98 is fonned intermediate the legs 90 adjacent theopening 92. The seat 98 normally frictionally engages the clampingsurface 62 of the ball 52 over an arc of substantially 30. A screw 104is adjustably connected between the mounting bracket 34 and the mountingplate 36 and serves to clamp the ball 52 between the socket 80 and theseat 98.

Under normal operating conditions, the support am 32 is fixedly retainedrelative to the mounting bracket 34 as shown in HO. 1. In the event themirror 30 is forwardly impacted, the support arm 32 and the ball 52 willrotate the aforementioned 30 about the universal connection at thesocket 80 to the position shown in H0. 3. At this point, the seat 98loses contact with the clamping surface 62 in the vicinity of the notch54; and, inasmuch as no clamping force is applied to the ball, furthermovement of the support arm 32 causes the ball 52 and the associatedmirror 30 to physically separate from the mounting bracket 34 andclamping bracket 36. Because of the curved periphery of the notch, thisseparation will also occur for an impact 30 right or left of centerAlthough only one form of this invention has been shown and described,other forms will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.Therefore, it is not intended to limit the scope of this invention bythe embodiment selected for the purpose of this disclosure but only bythe claims which follow.

lclaim:

1. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:a support member having a mirror element connected at one end and a ballmember formed at the other end; a mounting member adapted to be attachedinterior of the motor vehicle having a socket portion in which said ballmember is received and about which the latter is relatively movable;clamping means movably connected to the mounting member normallyengaging said ball member for retaining the latter against said socketportion; surface means formed in said ball member acting in associationwith said socket portion in response to a predetermined movement of thesupport member to cause said clamping means to be released to therebypermit separation of the support member from the mounting member.

2. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:a support arm; a mirror unit connected to one end of the support arm; aball formed at the other end of said support arm; a notch formed in saidball and establishing on opposite sides thereof a seating surface and aclamping surface; a mounting member adapted to be attached interior ofthe motor vehicle; a socket portion formed in said mounting memberadapted to receive and universally support said seating surface; aclamping member adjustably connected to the mounting member having aportion normally engaging said clamping surface to frictionally holdsaid seating surface against said socket portion, said notch and saidclamping member cooperating to release said ball from said mountingmember after predetermined movement of the support arm, therebypermitting separation of the mirror unit from the mounting member.

3. A breakaway interior rearview mirror assembly for a motor vehiclecomprising: a mounting bracket adapted to be attached interior of saidmotor vehicle; a spherical socket formed in said mounting bracket; aclamping plate having spaced legs hingedly connected to the mountingbracket that define a ball stud receiving opening; a spherical seatformed in said clamping plate between said legs adjacent said opening;adjusting means between the mounting bracket and the clamping plate forrelatively pivoting the seat with respect to the socket; an elongatedsupport arm; a spherical ball formed at one end of the support arm andextending through said opening; a mirror attached to the other end ofthe support arm; a generally V-shaped transverse notch formed in saidball, the spherical surfaces on either side of said notch res ctivelybeing releasably seated between said seat and said soc et, thearrangement being such that said ball IS normally frictionally heldagainst movement but upon predetermined movement of said support armsaid socket loses contact with said ball at said notch, therebypermitting physical separation of said mirror from said mountingbracket.

4. In combination with a motor vehicle having a front windshield, aninterior mirror assembly located adjacent said windshield and providinga view rearwardly of the vehicle,

said mirror assembly comprising: a support member having a mirrorclement connected at one end and a ball member formed at the other end;a mounting member attached to the vehicle above said windshield andhaving a spherical socket portion fonned therein in which said ballmember is received and about which the latter is relatively movable;clamping means movably connected to the mounting member and normallyengaging a portion of the outer surface of said ball member forretaining the latter against said spherical socket portion; a notchformed in said ball member adjacent said portion of the outer surfacethereof that causes said ball member to lose contact with said clampingmeans and thereby drop from the mounting member in response to apredetermined amount of movement of the support member towards saidwindshield.

1. An interior rearview mirror assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:a support member having a mirror element connected at one end and a ballmember formed at the other end; a mounting member adapted to be attachedinterior of the motor vehicle having a socket portion in which said ballmember is received and about which the latter is relatively movable;clamping means movably connected to the mounting member normallyengaging said ball member for retaining the latter against said socketportion; surface means formed in said ball member acting in associationwith said socket portion in response to a predetermined movement of thesupport member to cause said clamping means to be released to therebypermit separation of the support member from the mounting member.
 2. Aninterior rearview mirror assembly for a motor vehicle comprising: asupport arm; a mirror unit connected to one end of the support arm; aball formed at the other end of said support arm; a notch formed in saidball and establishing on opposite sides thereof a seatiNg surface and aclamping surface; a mounting member adapted to be attached interior ofthe motor vehicle; a socket portion formed in said mounting memberadapted to receive and universally support said seating surface; aclamping member adjustably connected to the mounting member having aportion normally engaging said clamping surface to frictionally holdsaid seating surface against said socket portion, said notch and saidclamping member cooperating to release said ball from said mountingmember after predetermined movement of the support arm, therebypermitting separation of the mirror unit from the mounting member.
 3. Abreakaway interior rearview mirror assembly for a motor vehiclecomprising: a mounting bracket adapted to be attached interior of saidmotor vehicle; a spherical socket formed in said mounting bracket; aclamping plate having spaced legs hingedly connected to the mountingbracket that define a ball stud receiving opening; a spherical seatformed in said clamping plate between said legs adjacent said opening;adjusting means between the mounting bracket and the clamping plate forrelatively pivoting the seat with respect to the socket; an elongatedsupport arm; a spherical ball formed at one end of the support arm andextending through said opening; a mirror attached to the other end ofthe support arm; a generally V-shaped transverse notch formed in saidball, the spherical surfaces on either side of said notch respectivelybeing releasably seated between said seat and said socket, thearrangement being such that said ball is normally frictionally heldagainst movement but upon predetermined movement of said support armsaid socket loses contact with said ball at said notch, therebypermitting physical separation of said mirror from said mountingbracket.
 4. In combination with a motor vehicle having a frontwindshield, an interior mirror assembly located adjacent said windshieldand providing a view rearwardly of the vehicle, said mirror assemblycomprising: a support member having a mirror element connected at oneend and a ball member formed at the other end; a mounting memberattached to the vehicle above said windshield and having a sphericalsocket portion formed therein in which said ball member is received andabout which the latter is relatively movable; clamping means movablyconnected to the mounting member and normally engaging a portion of theouter surface of said ball member for retaining the latter against saidspherical socket portion; a notch formed in said ball member adjacentsaid portion of the outer surface thereof that causes said ball memberto lose contact with said clamping means and thereby drop from themounting member in response to a predetermined amount of movement of thesupport member towards said windshield.